The M2Q Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for Bogalusa Mayor Tyrin Truong is an F (53%) Highly corrupt. M2Q (Motion to Quash LLC) models the CPI to measure how corrupt candidates are perceived to be, according to experts. Presently, the CPI ranking is the most widely used corruption model in the world.
The M2Q Corruption Perception Index for Mayor Truong is based on these crucial matters:
Ethics violations: According to the Ethics Board, Truong owes unpaid campaign finance late fees totaling $4,480.00 for several late or unfiled reports related to the November 8, 2022 election.
Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI): Reference to two lawsuits: 1. WENDY WILLIAMS DUPONT VERSUS MAYOR TYRIN Z, TRUONG and 2. DTV Enterprises, LLC v. ULGNO (Urban League of Louisiana Lawsuit).
Malfeasance allegations: multiple charges, including malfeasance.
Bogalusa Audit Report: A 2024 Louisiana Legislative Auditor report revealed that Bogalusa improperly handled over $947,000 in public funds. This included the misuse of $468,000 in federal ARPA funds for employee bonuses. It also included a year-long budget deficit, and over $1 million in unpaid IRS taxes. The audit cited inadequate policies, non-compliance with state laws, and poor record-keeping.
The M2Q Corruption Perception Index highlights where the Louisiana Democratic party is lacking, by exposing corrupt networks.
How Do We Measure CPI?
We model the Corruption Perception Index on a scale from 100 (very clean) to 0 (highly corrupt). It is based on: 1. Campaign contributions issued (5 points), 2. Campaign contributions received (5 points), and 3. Disclosures/conflicts of interest (5 points). A score of 15 points equals 100 percent.
Tyrin Truong
F
53%
4
4
0
Campaigns are dynamic, so we welcome your feedback. If you see a candidate’s position has changed, send us a message with the new information.
Recognized by the NWC,Tracie Burke is author of Motion to Quash. If you would like to support journalism in the public interest, click here to donate. Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC .
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Sources for Tyrin Truong’s CPI
You can find the campaign finance reports and disclosures on the Ethics Board website. You can find the Bogalusa audit report on the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s website. The Bogalusa Daily News, reported the “transfer of $400,000 from the ARPA fund into the general fund in April of 2023, under newly elected mayor Tyrin Truong, and states that no documentation could be found that gave a reason for this transfer or verify that the funds were used according to the specific authorized purposes in the grant.” The indictments were announced by the District Attorney’s office.
Cleo Fields’ Corruption Perception Index (CPI) is F (33%). It details him as highly corrupt based on current and past issues. For example, ethics fines, False Claims Act scrutiny, and allegations of insider trading are a few. Also, his gerrymandering effort benefited his 2024 congressional bid. Further, a historical 1997 FBI video of him accepting $20,000 cash from former Governor Edwin Edwards, is a suspected bribe. He also faced a State Supreme Court bar from running for reelection in 2007.
CPI for Democratic Candidates Overview
Basically, this overview highlights where the Louisiana Democratic party is lacking by exposing networks that allow corruption. The average CPI score is a B (85%). While 14 candidates have scored A for their corruption levels, 4 candidates in leadership positions failed. They have stayed stagnant or got worse. One candidate scored a B.
Democrat candidates U.S. Senate, U.S. House 2026
Corruption Score is based on three data sources. 5 total points possible for each one.
Ethics Disclosures and Campaign Finance- Issues found
Ethics Fines
Recently, the Louisiana Ethics Board denied Cleo Fields’ appeal to waive fines related to missing campaign finance reporting deadlines. These fines stemmed from a 2019, 1997, and 1999 reports for his state senate campaigns.
Active Account: As of late 2023, the account in question still had $3,470 in remaining contributions. It also had over $300,000 in outstanding loans.
PPP Loans- Cleo Fields is being scrutinized for accepting donations from businesses that received taxpayer backed PPP disaster assistance. This raises concerns about the legitimacy of the need for the loan.
False Claims Act
The investigation into loan fraud among disaster recovery recipients and Louisiana politicians highlights concerns about the legitimacy of taxpayer-funded assistance. Over 100 businesses donated politically after receiving nearly $200 million in federal funds. Calls for accountability include repayments from recipients who misused funds. Government scrutiny of fraudulent PPP loans persists.
Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI)
Receiving donations from a federal award recipient is generally not a direct legal conflict of interest for a Congressman. This applies as long as the funds are legal campaign contributions and not direct bribes. Still, it raises significant ethical concerns about the appearance of influence. If the donation is funded by the grant itself, it is prohibited lobbying.
For instance, in November of 2023, Cleo Fields accepted donations from Ray J’s College of Hair. Since then, from 2024-2026, the Department of Education issued over $570,000 in taxpayer funded federal awards to the college.
Cleo Fields issued at least $10,000 to judicial campaigns.
Marcelle, C. Denise
CLEO FIELDS CAMPAIGN FUND
7/25/2019
$250.00
Marcelle, C. Denise
CLEO FIELDS
12/7/2018
$500.00
Marcelle, C. Denise
CLEO FIELDS CAMPAIGN FUND
10/20/2020
$5,000.00
Fields, Wilson
CLEO FIELDS
6/23/2010
$2,500.00
Fields, Wilson
CLEO FIELDS
1/25/2025
$2,500.00
Insider Trading
Several media outlets have reported on the insider trading allegations involving Cleo Fields’s conveniently-timed stock trades.
News website NOTUS reported that Cleo Fields purchased nearly $300k of Oracle stock. This occurred in the days leading up to the public announcement of Oracle’s acquisition of Tik Tok. Fields’s membership on the House Committee on Financial Services has raised further red flags. Thus, leading some to believe that Fields violated Congressional “insider trading” laws (i.e. purchasing a company’s stock based on non-public information).
US Congressmen are prohibited from engaging in “insider trading” under the STOCK Act (2012).
Gerrymandering
Cleo Fields colluded with Republican Governor Jeff Landry in 2024 to create a gerrymandered US Congressional map that benefited Fields. One day after Landry signed the new law, Fields announced his bid for the 6th US Congressional district for 2024.
Background
In 1997, the FBI released video footage of Democratic congressman, Cleo Fields accepting $20k cash from former Governor Edwin Edwards. In the FBI tape, Governor Edwards talked about a deal for a casino license.
Edwards said, “You need to make sure that everyone involved is careful about how that’s passed out.” Fields had just run unsuccessfully for governor and said he had a $180,000 campaign debt.”
Further, the State Supreme Court barred Fields from running for reelection in 2007. This was due to questions about his official residency during his 2019 run for the State Senate.
How is the CPI measured?
The CPI index ranks candidates on a scale from 100 (very clean) to 0 (highly corrupt). For consistency, the total scores were based on these three principles:
Campaign contributions issued (5 points)
Campaign contributions received (5 points)
Disclosures/conflicts of interest (5 points)
Only when candidates scored 15 for the whole package did they score 100 percent.
Campaigns are dynamic, so we welcome your feedback. If you see a candidate’s position has changed, send us an email to info@motiontoquash.org with the new information.
Recognized by the NWC,Tracie Burke is author of Motion to Quash. M2Q supports the Whistleblower Protection Act. If you would like to support journalism in the public interest, click here to donate.Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC .
Dr. Frederick Graves d/b/a Jurisdictionary authorized this ad.
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This index focuses on Louisiana DPEC members and U.S. Senate candidate Jamie Davis, who earned a corruption perception score of F (56%), indicating he is perceived as more corrupt than not. The low score is attributed to issues surrounding the False Claims Act and nefarious campaign finance activity. M2Q suggests support for H.R. 6893-SCAM PAC Act to address such issues.
With a corruption perception score of F (56%), Louisiana DPEC member Jamie Davis is perceived as more corrupt than not. Specifically, the Democratic Candidate for the U.S.Senate earned a low score for issues surrounding the False Claims Act. Additionally, his nefarious campaign finance activity strengthens the need to support H.R.6893 – SCAM PAC Act.*
What is the M2Q Corruption Score? The Motion to Quash (M2Q) Corruption Score is an index of multiple sources. These sources are combined to produce an overall score.**
Corruption Perception Scores for Democratic Candidates for U.S. Senate, U.S. House
Democrat candidates U.S. Senate, U.S. House 2026
Corruption Score is based on three data sources in row 2. 5 total points possible for each one in Row 3. Scores are calculated in columns C/D
We capture expert assessments of various public sector corruption practices, like bribery, campaign finance abuse, and misuse of public funds.
The M2Q corruption perception index is a powerful representation of the stand against corruption in. It serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and honesty in our political system. Specifically, the scorecards offer precise and reliable judgment in the stand against corruption.
*Includes contributions from gaming interests, pharmaceuticals, or conflicts. It also includes any entity that received federal money in the form of contracts, grants, loans, or other financial assistance. Candidates are not penalized for funding their own campaigns.
**You can find the Ethics Disclosures and campaign finance reports on either the Louisiana Ethics Board or FEC websites. Also, you can find Federal Award profiles at USA Spending.
The federal government continues a quiet but active campaign against Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) recipients believed to have committed fraud. It continues to focus on civil False Claims Act cases.
According to M2Q, Jamie Davis is being scrutinized for receiving donations from PPP loan participants. Actually, this is only one example. Check back occasionally for updates, as more info becomes available.
Davis, James
B.A. ADAMS
8/11/2023
$1,000.00
During the pandemic, these taxpayer backed funds were meant for struggling businesses. Thus, issuing generous campaign contributions after receiving PPP loans raises concerns about the legitimacy of the need for assistance.
Simply receiving donations is not enough to prompt an investigation under the False Claims Act. But, generous political contributions from PPP disaster recovery recipients are open to question. Thus, donations linked with reports of Ethics complaints, or IRS violations are enough evidence to lead to criminal prosecution.
Since 2019, Motion to Quash has published this index before elections. Basically, it ranks candidates on a scale from 100 (very clean) to 0 (highly corrupt). For consistency, it measures the total scores based on three principles:
Campaign contributions issued (5 points)
Campaign contributions received (5 points)
Disclosures/conflicts of interest (5 points)
Only when candidates scored 15 for the whole package did they score 100 percent.
Campaigns are dynamic, so we welcome your feedback. If you see a candidate’s position has changed, send us an email to info@motiontoquash.org with the new information, or use the contact form below.
Recognized by the NWC,Tracie Burke is author of Motion to Quash. M2Q supports the Whistleblower Protection Act. If you would like to support journalism in the public interest, click here to donate.Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC .
$500 can get you two banners for an entire month. This includes ads across the M2Q website using both branding and call-to-action. Click here to buy ads or use the QR code. Thank you!
Lauren Jewett Corruption Perception Score: F (56%)
This focus is on the alleged corruption surrounding candidate for U.S. House Dist.1, Lauren Jewett. She scored an “F (59%)” Corruption Perception Score from Motion to Quash (M2Q). This index assesses public sector corruption and campaign finance abuse. Additionally, M2Q criticizes KIPP in New Orleans, which operates within a controversial charter system. M2Q labels it a programmatic failure due to allegations of special education law violations. Other issues include, “abhorrent conditions,” improper disciplinary practices, high teacher turnover, and low college persistence rates.
What is the M2Q Corruption Score? The Motion to Quash (M2Q) Corruption Score is an index of multiple sources. These sources are merged to produce an overall score.*
Democrat candidates U.S. Senate, U.S. House 2026
Corruption Score is based on three data sources in row 2. 5 total points possible for each one in Row 3. Scores are calculated in columns C/D
The goal is to capture expert assessments of various public sector corruption practices. This includes bribery and misuse of public funds. It also involves abuse of public office for personal gain.
The M2Q corruption perception score is a powerful representation of the stand against corruption in Louisiana. It serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and honesty in our political system. The scorecards offer precise and reliable judgment of campaign finance abuse. They give sound judgment particularly for those interested in elections and the stand against corruption.
**M2Q obtained campaign finance reports from the Louisiana Ethics Board website. Federal Award profiles were found at: https://www.usaspending.gov/recipient
Lauren Jewett Corruption Perception Score: F (56%)
The U.S. Government is quietly but actively pursuing a campaign against Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) recipients believed to have committed fraud. The government is expected to continue to pursue civil False Claims Act cases.
Essentially, these taxpayer backed funds were meant for struggling businesses for disaster assistance. So, issuing generous campaign contributions after receiving PPP loans raises concerns about the legitimacy of the need for assistance.
Receiving donations is not enough to prompt an investigation. But, generous political contributions from PPP disaster recovery recipients offer enough evidence to lead to criminal prosecution.
The investigation into loan fraud among disaster recovery recipients and Louisiana politicians highlights concerns about the legitimacy of taxpayer-funded assistance. Over 100 businesses donated politically after receiving nearly $200 million in federal funds. Calls for accountability include repayments from recipients who misused funds and government scrutiny of fraudulent PPP loans persists.
In 2020, Lindsey Cheek received a taxpayer backed PPP loan of 73,035. Later, Cheek issued $500 to help finance Lauren Jewett’s campaign.This raises concerns about the legitimacy of the need for disaster assistance. These funds were meant for struggling small businesses, not for political contributions.
Jewett, Lauren
LINDSEY CHEEK
8/25/2023
$500.00
David Levy admitted, “My business got, I think $350k in PPP loans, and I donated more to the Jewett campaign.” M2Q found that PETROTECHNOLOGIES, INC received $186,035 including interest in forgivable loans in the first round in 2020. In the second round in 2021, PETROTECHNOLOGIES, INC received $172,115. That is a significant amount of money. Fraud schemes like these are costliest for taxpayers.
MUR 7062
Numero, Inc– The Federal Election Commission (FEC) conducted a matter (MUR 7062) involving Numero, Inc., which was finalized around 2020 about potential campaign finance issues.
KIPP- A Programmatic Failure and “abhorrent conditions”
KIPP in New Orleans faces criticism as a programmatic failure, contributing to a broader, unstable, and inequitable charter system. In particular, allegations include violating special education laws, improper student disciplinary practices, and low college persistence rates. Further, the network has struggled with high teacher turnover, inadequate support for vulnerable students.
Recently, KIPP neglected to offer required services for an impaired student, which ultimately led to legal disputes with the district. It also caused operational disputes. Additionally, KIPP suspended or expelled students without proper due process, in violation of state laws.
Despite a, “college for all” mission, KIPP New Orleans has struggled with college persistence rates, notes NPR.
Further, KIPP is the largest charter operator in an “all-charter” system. Yet, it operates within a framework criticized for causing high school turnover. This framework also disrupts education for students, say The Progressive and Diane Ravitch’s blog.
Finally, the network has faced criticism for high turnover rates, which impacts the consistency of the educational program, notes EXPOSEDbyCMD.
Method
How do we measure corruption scores?
Since 2019, Motion to Quash has published this index before elections. Basically, it ranks candidates on a scale from 100 (very clean) to 0 (highly corrupt). For consistency, it measures the total scores based on three principles:
Campaign contributions issued (5 points)
Campaign contributions received (5 points)
Disclosures/conflicts of interest (5 points)
Only when candidates scored 15 for the whole package did they score 100 percent.
Campaigns are dynamic, so we welcome your feedback. If you see a candidate’s position has changed, send us an email to info@motiontoquash.org with the new information, or use the contact form below.
Recognized by the NWC,Tracie Burke is author of Motion to Quash. M2Q supports the Whistleblower Protection Act. If you would like to support journalism in the public interest, click here to donate.Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC .
Sign up for M2Q updates by using the contact form. If you want, you can unsubscribe anytime.
Get two banners in front of your target audience for an entire month. An effective advertising campaign will include placing ads across the Motion to Quash website using both branding and call-to-action messages. Click here to buy ads or use the QR code.
The Motion to Quash (M2Q) Corruption Index collects data from multiple sources to produces a corruption perception score.*
Source Data
M2Q captured expert assessments of various public sector corruption practices. At length, this includes bribery and misuse of public funds. Additionally, it involves abuse of public office for personal gain, nepotism in civil service, and state capture.
Then, M2Q scrupulously took into account 3 different assessments from 22 political candidates in Jefferson Parish. Half are unopposed.
Corruption Perception Overview
Generally, the average corruption perception score for Jefferson Parish candidates is C (71%). Overall, fourteen candidates scored A, four candidates scored F, and two scored D. Only one scored B and only one scored C.
The M2Q corruption perception score is a powerful representation of the stand against corruption in Jefferson Parish. It helpfully serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and honesty in our political system.
Additionally, the scorecards offer precise and reliable judgment of campaign finance abuse. They give sound judgment particularly for those interested in elections and the stand against corruption.
*Includes contributions from gaming interests, pharmaceuticals, conflicts, or any entity that has received federal money in the form of contracts, grants, loans, or other financial assistance. Candidates are not penalized for funding their own campaigns.
Click the name to view the folder for each candidate
The U.S. Government continues to pursue a quiet but active campaign against Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) recipients they believe committed fraud. The government is expected to continue to pursue criminal charges, with a focus on civil False Claims Act cases.
How is corruption perception measured?
Historically, Motion to Quash publishes the corruption scores before elections. It ranks candidates on a scale from 100 (very clean) to 0 (highly corrupt). For consistency, we base the total scores on these three principles:
Campaign contributions issued (5 points)
Campaign contributions received (5 points)
Disclosures/conflicts of interest (5 points)
Only when candidates earn 15 points for the whole package do they score 100 percent.
Campaigns are dynamic. We welcome your feedback. If you see a candidate’s position has changed, send us an email to info@motiontoquash.org with the new information.
Recognized by the NWC,Tracie Burke is author of Motion to Quash. M2Q supports the Whistleblower Protection Act. If you would like to support journalism in the public interest, click here to donate.Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC .
Ethics scores 24th JDC Election 2024 describes how Scientific research shows campaign contributions are correlated with judges’ decisions. There is a crisis with the court’s legitimacy in Louisiana. This issue is very salient now for a variety of reasons. There are political concerns, case-related concerns, and financial concerns.
Damon Cann, a Political Science instructor at Georgia University, conducted a study. It explores whether judges favor attorneys who support their campaigns financially. He shows that campaign contributions are indeed correlated with judges’ decisions. (Cann, Damon M. “Justice for Sale? Campaign Contributions and Judicial Decision making.” State Politics & Policy Quarterly, vol. 7, no. 3, 2007, pp. 281–97. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40405604. Accessed 29 Feb. 2024)
Judicial Ethics in Louisiana
Presently, Judicial ethics in Louisiana is a pretty hot topic for Motion to Quash LLC. Particularly, there is discussion about judges taking advantage of elections to promote their own interests. Talks about judges showing favor with attorneys who donate to their campaigns are widespread. There is also discussion about making it illegal for judges to accept contributions from attorneys who practice in their district. Join the Campaign for Judicial Integrity in Louisiana here.
The Code of Judicial Conduct highlights a crucial principle- that Judges should avoid the appearance of impropriety. 28 USC section 455 – enacted by Congress, binds them and sets the standard for all the courts.
None of the three candidates for 24th JDC follow the judicial guidelines. They do not adhere when it comes to providing financial support to their campaigns. Jefferson Parish has been out of step with the norms governing Louisiana since Operation Wrinkled Robe. The operation, championed by Jim Letten, proved campaign support in Jefferson Parish was given with criminal intent. It was not for political reasons.
As a judicial candidate, Jackie Maloney received $29,400 campaign contributions from 44 attorneys who practice in her district. Specifically, Ms. Maloney received $2500 from 5 attorneys and $1,000 from 5 attorneys. $500 was issued by 14 attorneys.
Jackie Maloney, as an attorney.
As an attorney, Maloney issued over five thousand dollars in campaign contributions to 7 Judges in her district of practice.
Since 2020, Jerry Smith received over $115,000 from over 180 attorneys who practice in his district. Specifically, Mr. Smith received $2500 from 13 attorneys and $1,000 from 21 attorneys. $500 was issued by 50 attorneys.
Since 2019, Jerry Smith issued $3650 to 10 judges in the 24th JDC.
As a candidate, Lindsey Valenti received more than $150, 000 from over 130 attorneys who practice in her district. Specifically, Valenti received $2,500 from 36 attorneys and $1,000 from 22 attorneys. $500 was received by 42 attorneys.
As an attorney, Lindsey Valenti issued zero dollars to Judges, thus earning a higher score despite receiving the most money.
Method
For consistency, the total scores were based on these three principles:
Campaign contributions issued (5 possible points)
Campaign contributions received (5 possible points)
Disclosures/conflicts of interest (5 possible points)
Only when candidates scored 15 for the whole package did they score 100 percent. Campaigns are dynamic, so we welcome your feedback. If you see a candidate’s position has changed, send us an email to tracie@motiontoquash.org with the new information. The spreadsheets are free and printable. We obtained the campaign finance reports from the Ethics Board’s website. You can find the Ethics Disclosures on the Louisiana Supreme Court’s website.
Recognized by the NWC,Tracie Burke is author of Motion to Quash. M2Q supports the Whistleblower Protection Act. If you would like to support journalism in the public interest, click here to donate.Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC .
The investigation into loan fraud among disaster recovery recipients and Louisiana politicians highlights concerns about the legitimacy of taxpayer-funded assistance. Over 100 businesses donated politically after receiving nearly $200 million in federal funds. Calls for accountability include repayments from recipients who misused funds and government scrutiny of fraudulent PPP loans persists.
The investigation of loan fraud committed by disaster recovery recipients and Louisiana politicians is alarming. Businesses issued large political donations after receiving taxpayer-backed federal money. During the pandemic, they received PPP loans that are tied to political donations.
Understandably, this raises concerns about the legitimacy of their need for assistance and calls for investigations. According to Motion to Quash, disaster recovery recipients who issued campaign contributions after receiving their awards should repay the taxpayers.
How PPP Loans Are Tied to Fraudulent Political Contributions in Louisiana- Analysis
According to an analysis of federal data by Motion to Quash LLC, political donations flowed from over 100 businesses. These donations came after they received nearly $200 Million in taxpayer backed government funds.
These funds are meant for struggling small businesses, not for political contributions. Fraud schemes like these are the costliest for taxpayers
Louisiana Lawmakers Repeal Campaign Limits After PPP Loans
After the SBA issued PPP loans, Louisiana lawmakers made a significant change to an essential law when they passed SB4. By removing certain campaign finance limitations, donors can contribute to multiple campaigns. (Repeals R.S. 18:1505.2(H)(7))
Still Under Scrutiny
The COVID-19 pandemic effects continue to reverberate for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Whether forgiven or not, these loans are still under scrutiny for how PPP loans are tied to campaign finance.
The federal government continues to pursue a quiet campaign against Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) fraud. It is expected to continue to pursue civil False Claims Act cases for up to ten years after the offense.
Click the link to view the recipient’s federal award profile.
How PPP Loans Are Tied to Fraudulent Political Contributions in Louisiana
“When the pandemic started, the SBA took on an out sized role in restarting our nation’s economy. The PPP and EIDL programs were vital to saving small businesses, but that fact does not excuse $200 billion in fraud,” explained Chairman Roger Williams (R-TX). “It’s a top priority of this Committee to recoup these stolen funds, and yesterday’s hearing looked at new, innovative private sector solutions to do just that. I’m very grateful for our four witnesses, and we’ll continue our work on holding these fraudsters accountable.”
From the PRAC Chairman
Follow the link to read the Statement of Michael E. Horowitz, Chair, Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, Inspector General, U.S.
Also, the Department of Justice made a statement before the U.S.House of Representatives Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis about “Examining Federal Efforts To Prevent, Detect, And Prosecute Pandemic Relief Fraud To Safeguard Funds For All Eligible Americans”
Recognized by the NWC,Tracie Burke is author of Motion to Quash. M2Q supports the Whistleblower Protection Act. If you would like to support journalism in the public interest, click here to donate.Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC .
Advertise with Motion to Quash LLC
Did you know, digital media provides measurable results? If you act now, you can get two banners in front of your target audience for an entire month. An effective advertising campaign will include placing ads across the Motion to Quash website using both branding and call-to-action messages. Click here to buy ads or use the QR code.
The scrutiny of Jefferson Parish Council candidates for the 2023 elections reveals potential abuses linked to the False Claims Act. Council members Jennifer Van Vrancken and Ricky Templet received significant contributions after securing taxpayer-backed loans, raising concerns about campaign finance abuses. Motion to Quash advocates for transparency and accountability.
Corruption Scorecards Jefferson Parish Councilman at Large Div. A by Tracie Burke | Motion to Quash LLC | October 6, 2023
Candidates for Jefferson Parish Councilman for the 2023 elections are being scrutinized under the False Claims Act. The False Claims Act is a federal law that imposes liability on those who defraud governmental programs. It is the federal government’s primary litigation tool in combating fraud against the government.
Corruption Scorecards Jefferson Parish Councilman at Large Div. A
Motion to Quash conducted an analysis of federal data. It showed Council members Jennifer Van Vrancken and Ricky Templet received over a half million dollars.
Over 350 entities made political contributions after receiving over $73 million dollars in taxpayer-backed SBA loans.
In both instances, candidates received large donations after companies they controlled, or companies owned by family members, obtained loans.
Frankie Hayers, the only other candidate, financed his own campaign.
Balcony Enterprises Inc, a family owned enterprise, received a total of $365,491 from the SBA. Afterward, The Balcony Ballroom issued a political contribution to Jennifer Van Vrancken of $5,000.
Hearing Health Care of Louisiana Inc, owned by family member Ryan Templet, received $186,812 from the Paycheck Protection Program. After receiving the taxpayer backed funds, Ryan Templet issued $5000 to Ricky Templet’s political campaign.
These funds were meant for struggling businesses. Generous campaign contributions just before or after receiving disaster assistance raises concerns about the legitimacy of their need for assistance. “It suggests the entities misled the SBA to obtain government funds and should be obligated to repay the taxpayers. Fraud schemes like this are the costliest for the taxpayers.” a spokesperson for Motion to Quash said.
Most Egregious Abuses of the PPP
The M2Q analysis identified two major abuses of the Paycheck Protection Program. These were Adams & Reese Law Firm and Harvey Gulf International Marine LLC.
Adams and Reese Law Firm received $9.2 million dollars from the taxpayer backed Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Later, Adams and Reese and ARPAC issued nearly $800,000 in political contributions. This amount includes over $100,000 paid to its own Political Action Committee.
Harvey Gulf International Marine LLC received $8.8 million dollars from the Paycheck Protection Program. They then issued over $600,000 to political campaigns. This included $100,000 to the Republican Party and $100,000 to Louisiana Citizens for Job Creators Inc.
Recouping Stolen Pandemic Loan Funds
Motion to Quash is a powerful representation of the fight against corruption in Jefferson Parish. The Anti Corruption Scorecard serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and honesty in our political system. The scorecards are adequate to give precise assessments. They offer reliable and sound judgment of campaign finance abuse. This is particularly useful for those interested in the 2023 Elections and the stand against corruption.
Contributions alone are not enough for an investigation. Nevertheless, generous campaign contributions and confidential disclosures submitted to the Inspector General are enough evidence to lead to criminal prosecutions.
“When the pandemic started, the SBA took on an outsized role in restarting our nation’s economy. The PPP and EIDL programs were vital to saving small businesses, but that fact does not excuse $200 billion in fraud,” explained Chairman Roger Williams (R-TX). “It’s a top priority of this Committee to recoup these stolen funds, and yesterday’s hearing looked at new, innovative private sector solutions to do just that. I’m very grateful for our four witnesses, and we’ll continue our work on holding these fraudsters accountable.”
Click the link to read the Statement of Michael E. Horowitz, Chair, Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Justice before the U.S. House of Representatives Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis about “Examining Federal Efforts To Prevent, Detect, And Prosecute Pandemic Relief Fraud To Safeguard Funds For All Eligible Americans”
M2Q obtained Campaign finance reports from the Louisiana Ethics Board website. It obtained Disaster Recipient Profiles at usaspending.gov.
Approach
For consistency, we based the total scores on these three principles:
Campaign contributions issued (5 points)
Campaign contributions received (5 points)
Disclosures/conflicts of interest (5 points)
Only when candidates scored 15 for the whole package did they score 100 percent.
Campaigns are dynamic. We welcome your feedback. If you see a candidate’s position has changed, send us an email to info@motiontoquash.org with the new information.
Recognized by the National Whistleblower Center (NWC), Tracie Burke is Louisiana author of motiontoquash.org. You can reach her at tracie@motiontoquash.org. Motion to Quash LLC successfully promoted legislation that supports the Whistleblower Protection Act. Please Support journalism in the public interest by contributing today. Click here to donate Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC 2019. NWC’s mission is to support whistleblowers. They also help prosecute other wrongdoing around the world.
Advertise with Motion to Quash LLC
Digital media provides measurable results. $500 can get you two banners in front of your target audience for an entire month. An effective advertising campaign will include placing ads across the Motion to Quash website using both branding and call-to-action messages. Click here to buy ads or use the QR code.
An analysis by Motion to Quash LLC reveals corruption concerns among Louisiana House of Representatives candidates, with over $200 million in taxpayer-backed disaster assistance payments linked to political donations. The group’s anti-corruption scorecard shows varied scores among candidates, indicating issues in campaign finance and transparency ahead of the 2023 elections.
Corruption Scores Jefferson Parish House of Reps Election 2023 by Tracie Burke | Motion to Quash LLC | Sept. 22, 2023
According to an analysis of federal government data by Motion to Quash LLC., Louisiana House of Representatives received payments from over 100 entities. These payments amounted to over $200 million dollars in taxpayer-backed Disaster Assistance.
The investigation of loan fraud by PPP loan recipients and Louisiana lawmakers is alarming. Businesses issued large political donations after receiving taxpayer backed pandemic loans. This raises concerns about the legitimacy of their need for assistance.
“Loan recipients made campaign contributions after getting their awards. They should repay the loans,” a spokesperson for Motion to Quash said. “Fraud schemes like this are the costliest for the taxpayers.”
Motion to Quash is a powerful representation of the fight against corruption in Jefferson Parish. The House of Representative Anti Corruption Scorecard serves as a reminder. It highlights the importance of transparency and honesty in our political system. The scorecards give precise and reliable judgment. They offer sound assessment of campaign finance abuse. This is particularly relevant for those interested in the 2023 Elections and the stand against corruption.
Motion to Quash obtained campaign finance reports from the Louisiana Ethics Board website. Disaster Relief Profiles were found at usaspending.gov.
Corruption Scores Jefferson Parish House of Reps Election 2023-SCORE DISTRIBUTION OVERVIEW
Of the 21 candidates for State Representative on the Jefferson Parish sample ballot, 6 scored A+ (28.6%), 1 scored B+ (4.8%), 1 scored B- (4.8%), 2 scored C (9.5%), 8 scored D (38.1%), and 3 scored F (14.3%)
Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI)
From the time period 2020 to the current, candidates received a grand total of contributions over $1.4 million dollars including a sum of over $600,000 from pharmaceuticals, gaming interests, government contractors, and PPP disaster recipients. By far the most frequent recipient is Timothy Kerner Sr.
Approach
For consistency, we based the total scores on these three principles:
Campaign contributions issued (5 points)
Campaign contributions received (5 points)
Disclosures/conflicts of interest (5 points)
Only when candidates scored 15 for the whole package did they score 100 percent.
Campaigns are dynamic. We welcome your feedback. If you see a candidate’s position has changed, send us an email to info@motiontoquash.org with the new information.
Recognized by the National Whistleblower Center, Tracie Burke is Louisiana author of Motion to Quash. She can be reached at tracie@motiontoquash.org. Motion to Quash LLC successfully promoted legislation that supports the Whistleblower Protection Act. Please Support journalism in the public interest by contributing today. Click here to donate Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC.
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Tracie Burke | Motion to Quash LLC | August 27, 2023
The use of political campaign funds has recently sparked great interest in Louisiana. This interest is shared among both voters and members of the Louisiana Board of Ethics. The Motion to Quash scorecards are enough to give precise, reliable and sound judgment of campaign finance abuse. Motion to Quash compiles and analyzes campaign contribution data. It identifies quid pro quo through its understanding of the electoral and public policy-making process.
Anti Corruption Scorecard for Jefferson Parish State Senator Candidates
Of the 9 candidates for State Senator on the Jefferson Parish sample ballot, 2 scored A+ (22.2%), 1 scored B- (11.1%), 5 scored C (55.6%), and 1 scored F (11.1%).
Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI)
Candidates received a sum of $225,670 from pharmaceuticals, gaming interests, and government contractors. The most frequent recipients are Kirk Talbot and Timothy Kerner.
Methodology
For consistency, the total scores were based on these three principles:
Campaign contributions issued (5 points)
Campaign contributions received (5 points)
Disclosures/conflicts of interest (5 points)
Only when candidates scored 15 for the whole package did they score 100 percent.
Campaigns are dynamic. We welcome your feedback. If you see a candidate’s position has changed, send us an email to info@motiontoquash.org with the new information.
Recognized by the National Whistleblower Center, Tracie Burke is Louisiana author of Motion to Quash. She can be reached at tracie@motiontoquash.org. Motion to Quash LLC successfully promoted legislation that supports the American Money Laundering Act and the Whistleblower Protection Act. Please Support journalism in the public interest by donating today. Click here to donate. The National Whistleblower Center (NWC) is the leading nonprofit dedicated to protecting and rewarding whistleblowers around the world.
Recognized by the
